Row 1: Maria Sandoval, Sami Savage, Bertha Rodriguez, and MaryAnn Parra.
Row 2: Sharon Minor, Wendi Manthei (Vice-Principal), Stacey Wilkinson, and Carla Lobos (Principal).
Row 3: Angelica Sotelo, Tatyana Polyukh, Vida Zuljevic, Laura Rudeen (ATP Chair), Alicia Barber, and Angie Meiners (ATP Chair).
Meeting the Challenge to Involve More Families
Robert Frost Elementary School, grades K-5, includes over 550 students in families who speak many different languages at home. Many programs and services at Robert Frost are offered in English, Spanish, and Russian. Although a high percentage of students qualify for free and reduced-price lunch, the teachers, administrators, and ATP do not let these statistics interfere with their goal to increase family and community involvement.
As one example, the ATP developed the Trimester Perfect Attendance program to encourage students to improve attendance. The school recognized students with perfect attendance records each semester and increased communication about attendance with all parents. At the end of each time period, athletes from two local sports leagues, high school students, and/or a local hockey team mascot came to individual classrooms to deliver certificates of excellence to the attendance all-stars. Students asked the athletes for their autographs and some took pictures with them. In addition to the certificates, winners were given a coupon for a free item at McDonald’s and a letter of recognition to take home to their parents. The letters were written in English, Spanish, and Russian. With this program, 197 perfect attendance certificates were awarded in 2008. Average daily attendance is 93% and growing.
Reach Results for Student Success in School
The ATP invited families to a safari-themed Jungle Math Night for parents and students to enjoy math and math games together. Over 245 participants attended, with the goal of increasing students interest in math, family support for math, and higher math test scores. In the jungle, 45 ATP volunteers donned safari hats and set up a life-sized jungle diorama in the school’s lobby. Students and parents roamed through the different math booths to estimate the length of tropical snakes, make jungle patterned necklaces, graph patterns on the forest floor, and conduct other fun, yet thought-provoking activities. Activities were conducted in English, Spanish, and Russian. About 45 volunteers from the ATP, faculty, staff, high school, family, and community volunteers assisted.
See Robert Frost’s prior Partnership School Award in 2007. Also see examples of activities in Promising Partnership Practices on the website, www.partnershipschools.org, in the section Success Stories.